Method and apparatus for automatic printing from microfilm of short image areas

Abstract

Apparatus and method are disclosed for automatic printing of an enlarged reproduction of an image frame stored on a microfilm without reproduction of images found on adjacent image frames and without the need to reposition the image frame adjacent frame marks found on a display screen. The method and apparatus of the invention provide for automatic calculation of the distance between the top of the image and the upper frame marks on the apparatus' display screen and the distance between the leading edges of the image frame to be reproduced and an adjacent image frame. In response to these calculations, an enlarged reproduction is produced that excludes information from adjacent image frames even though the image reproduced is of relatively short length compared to the copy sheet it is printed upon.

I claim: 
     
       1. In an apparatus for printing enlargements of image frames stored on a storage medium in miniature form the apparatus including display means for displaying an enlargement of the desired image frame to be reproduced, means for automatically locating the image frame for display on said display means, operator enterable selection means for cooperating with said automatic locating means for controlling said locating means so that said image frame is initially displayed automatically at a position convenient for viewing by said operator in accordance with his/her selection, reproducing means for forming an enlargement of one image frame upon a copy sheet of a size not substantially dependent upon the length of the image frame to be printed, the improvement which comprises: control means for determining a first parameter related to the distance between a first reference associated with said image frame and a second reference associated with said apparatus and independent of said first reference and for determining a second parameter related to the length of said image frame and in response generating signals to control said reproducing means to reproduced said image frame on said copy sheet without reproducing an adjacent image frame on said same copy sheet and without the need for the operator to adjust the displayed image frame from that position selected for convenient viewing.   
     
     
       2. The apparatus of claim 1 and wherein the display means includes an indicium for establishing a reference position for locating an image on the display means and wherein said second reference is related to the location of said indicium. 
     
     
       3. The apparatus of claim 2 and wherein the first reference is an indicium located on said storage medium adjacent the image frame and said control means includes sensing means for sensing an indicium associated with each image frame. 
     
     
       4. The apparatus of claim 3 and wherein the sensing means is located relative to each image frame to sense the indicia external to the image frames. 
     
     
       5. The printer apparatus of claims 1, 2, 3, or 4, and wherein the reproducing means includes a photoconductive surface; means for moving the surface relative to stations performing operations on the surface; charge providing means for producing a uniform electrostatic charge upon the surface as the surface is being moved relative thereto; illumination means for exposing onto the surface light that has been modulated by incremental segments of information on the image frame selected for reproduction to form an electrostatic image of the information; means for developing the electrostatic image; and means for transferring the developed image to the copy sheet. 
     
     
       6. The apparatus of claim 5 and including means for electronically scanning the image information on said image frame to be reproduced and for generating electrical signals related to the image information scanned and said reproducing means reproducing said image information in response to said electrical signals. 
     
     
       7. The apparatus of claim 1 and wherein the storage medium is microfilm and the apparatus further comprises projection means for projecting an image of an image frame located at a projection gate. 
     
     
       8. The apparatus of claim 7 and wherein the projection means includes means for optically projecting the image of an image frame located at a projection gate onto a viewing screen of said display means. 
     
     
       9. The apparatus of claims 1, 7 or 8, and including means for electronically scanning the image information on said image frame to be reproduced and for generating electrical signals related to the image information scanned and said reproducing means reproduces said image information in response to said electrical signals. 
     
     
       10. In a method for printing enlargements of image frames stored on a storage medium in miniature form, the method including the steps of displaying an enlargement of the desired image frame to be reproduced on a display screen, automatically locating the image frame for display on said display screen at a position convenient for viewing by said operator in accordance with his/her selection, reproducing an enlargement of one image frame upon a copy sheet of a size not substantially dependent upon the length of the image frame to be printed, the improvement which comprises: determining in response to movement of said storage medium relative to a sensor a first parameter related to the distance between a first reference associated with said image frame and a second reference associated with said apparatus and independent of said first reference and determining a second parameter related to the length of said image frame and in response generating signals to control said reproducing means to reproduce said image frame on said copy sheet without reproducing an adjacent image frame on said same copy sheet and without the need for the operator to adjust the displayed image frame from that selected for convenient viewing.   
     
     
       11. The method of claim 10 and wherein the display includes an indicium for establishing a reference position for locating an image on the display means and wherein said second reference is related to the location of said indicium. 
     
     
       12. The method of claim 11 and wherein the first reference is an indicium located on said storage medium adjacent the image frame. 
     
     
       13. The method of claim 10 and wherein the storage medium is microfilm and an image of an image frame located at a projection gate is projected onto said display means. 
     
     
       14. The method of claims 11, 12 or 13 and including the steps of electrically scanning the image information on said image frame to be reproduced and generating electrical signals related to the image information scanned and reproducing said image information in response to said electrical signals.